Retired MRPD Chief's Discussion

While the Fourth of July should be a time of celebration with friends and family, too often it ends tragically with a death that could have been prevented. Sadly, this holiday is one of the deadliest holidays of the year for alcohol impaired driving crashes. In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities this July 4th, the Mount Rainier Police Department reminds everyone that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving and challenges all drivers to plan ahead this holiday week to prevent them or a loved one from becoming another tragic statistic. Too often when people are celebrating on the Fourth of July, they aren’t thinking about the consequences that their actions could have on their family or on others. These consequences, such as possible jail time, insurance hikes, potential loss of driver’s license, harming and/or killing others, just to name a few should be enough of an incentive not to drink and drive. As people gather with their families and friends to celebrate our Nation’s birth...

June 23 rd : 29 th Street and Arundel Road : Traffic – 6:40am. Officers stopped a 2012 Dodge Avenger for a traffic violation. Further investigation revealed that the driver did not have a valid driver’s license. He was issued four traffic citations and released at the scene. His vehicle was impounded for safekeeping. 3300 block of Buchanan Street : Theft from auto – 7:25pm. The owner of a 2006 Toyota Matrix reported that while she was inside the PG Pool someone entered her vehicle and stole her wallet. 3300 block of Buchanan Street : Traffic – 8:05pm. Officers stopped a 2002 Dodge caravan for a traffic violation. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle’s tags were suspended and there was an MVA pick order for the tags. The driver did not have a license and he was issued four traffic citations and released at the scene. The vehicle was impounded for safekeeping and the tags were seized for return to MVA. June 22 nd : 3800 block of 32nd Street : Theft – 8:30am...

June 16 th : 2900 block of Arundel Road : Traffic – 10:45pm. Officers stopped a 2010 Kia Forte for a traffic violation. Further investigation revealed that the driver gave the officers a false name and did not possess a valid license. He was issues several traffic citations and his vehicle was impounded. June 15 th : 2200 block of Varnum Street : Lost property – 9:10am. Officers took a report from a man who said that he lost his bank debit card. He told officers that he last used the card at a retail store in the City back in May. 3100 block of Perry Street : Theft from auto – 11am. The owner of a 2003 Honda Accord told officers that her vehicle was left unsecured the previous night and someone entered the vehicle and stole a University of Maryland parking pass. There was no damage to the vehicle. 3300 block of Otis Street : Attempt theft from auto – 11:10am. The owner of a 2003 Ford Taurus told officers that he parked and secured his vehicle the night prior a...

June 9 th : 4000 block of 37 th Street : Residential burglary – 10:15am. Officers met with the home owner who said that the residence was recently vacated by a former tenant and that no one should be inside. The officers learned that the rear door glass had been broken out and someone had entered the house. With the assistance of officers from the Hyattsville City Police the house was searched and found to be vacant, however officers did locate two bags containing personal items. Officers were approached by a witness who pointed out a man who was walking down the street and said that it was he who had been inside the residence. The man was detained and the officers learned that the bags found in the house belonged to him. He was arrested, charged with burglary and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue : Criminal citation – 7:35pm. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for disorderly conduct. June 8 th : 4000 block of Cedar L...

What happens when you mix water, tin foil and Drano in a plastic drink bottle? Bad things! In at least one township in Michigan, police have found that kids are putting Drano, tin foil, and a little water in plastic drink bottles, capping it up, and leaving them on lawns, in mail boxes, in gardens, on driveways etc. When an unsuspecting person retrieves the bottle to put it in the trash or recycle bin, and shakes it even just a little, in about 30 seconds or less it builds up enough gas to explode with enough force to remove some of your extremities. The liquid that comes out is boiling hot as well and can cause 2nd and 3rd degree chemical burns. If you discover a plastic bottle on your property that looks like it contains any suspicious liquid or shows signs of swelling or melting, do not disturb it and call police immediately. You can learn more about the dangers of these bottle bombs and see videos of their destructive power by clicking on the following link: http://www.snop...

June 2 nd : Rhode Island Ave and 34 th Street : Hit and run collision – 7:10am. The driver of a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer told officers that he was driving north on Rhode Island Avenue and as he entered the traffic circle a second vehicle struck his right rear fender. The striking vehicle continued around the circle and fled into DC. 3300 block of Perry Street : Criminal citation – 9:40am. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for drinking in public. 2200 block of Varnum Street : Warrant arrest – 12:45pm. Officers stopped a man who fit the description of a man wanted on an open theft warrant. Further investigation revealed that the man was not the person for whom they were looking, however he did have an open arrest warrant through Prince George’s County for failing to appear in court on an unrelated theft charge. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 2200 block of Varnum Street : Warrant arrest – 2:10pm. O...

May 26 th : 4500 block of Rhode Island Avenue : Traffic/vehicle impound – 4am. Officers stopped a 1997 Cadillac Deville for a traffic violation. Further investigation revealed that the driver had a suspended license. He was issued several traffic citations and his vehicle was impounded. 4200 block of 28 th Street : Recovered stolen auto – 5:25am. Officers on patrol identified and recovered a 2003 Dodge Caravan reported stolen from an address in Prince George’s County on May 17 th . The vehicle was impounded for safekeeping. 4000 block of 31 st Street : Theft from auto – 5pm. The owner of a 2007 Nissan Altima told officers that he saw a dark blue Dodge Caravan parked beside his vehicle. He also said that he saw a black male wearing a white tank top shirt and dark color pants inside of his vehicle. As the owner approached his vehicle the man got out of his vehicle, entered the Caravan and fled the area eastbound on 31 st Street. After the suspect fled the are...

May 19th 2300 block of Varnum Street (7-11) : Armed robbery – 4:15am. Store employees told officers that while they were going about business as usual two black males entered the store wearing ski masks. One of the men produced a handgun and demanded money. The second man jumped over the counter and emptied the cash registers as the employees opened them. Both suspects then fled the store on foot up 22 nd Street to a waiting vehicle. Suspect #1 was described as a black male, 20-25 years of age, 5’10” tall, 170 lbs, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, a ski mask and armed with a blue semi automatic handgun. Suspect #2 was described as a black male 6’2” tall, 200 lbs, wearing blue jeans, a gray shirt and a ski mask. 3300 block of Buchanan Street : Motor vehicle collision – 4:35pm. Officers were called to investigate a two-vehicle collision. While speaking o the drivers involved the officers learned that the striking vehicle pulled out from a parking ...

May 12 th : 3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue : DWI arrest – 3:30am. Officers responded for the report of a single vehicle collision. When the officers arrived they located the driver and noticed a strong odor of alcohol about his person. He submitted to standard field sobriety testing and failed each of the tests. He refused to submit to further blood alcohol testing. He was charged with DUI/DWI by citation and released. His vehicle was impounded for safekeeping. 4200 block of 34 th Street : Mutual aid – 11pm. MRPD officers assisted members of the Prince George’s County Gang Task Force, Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office and US Marshal’s agents with the arrest of a man wanted in connection with a homicide that occurred in the County. Intelligence revealed that the suspect was at a gathering of about 20 MS13 gang members at an address on 34 th Street. Task force members raided the gathering and took the suspect into custody without incident. ...